Improvement in gas-lighting apparatus



UNITED STATES ATEN'I OFFICE.

EDWIN D. MGGRAOKEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO LUOIU S A. BIGE'- LOW, TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-LlGHTING APPARATUS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,083, dated October 17, `1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN D. MoCRAcxnN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas- Lighting Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to means whereby the gas at all the street-lamps in a city, town, or district, or at all the gas-burners in a building, or place of greater or less extent, may, after having been lighted, and when no illumination is required, be so nearly shut oil' at the gas-works 'or at a central or other convenient point or station, as to leave at each burner only liame enough for lighting up again when4 required, and may then be let on again as fully as desired for illumination.

I employ,in connection with each burner,or with any convenient number of burners, forming a set or group, as the means of letting on the gas thereto, either compressed air or gas at a higher pressure than the gas used for illumination, such air or higher-pressure gas being supplied by a separate system of main and service-pipes under the control of a cock or valve at the gas-works or other station, to act upon a iiexible diaphragm connected at or near each burner, or set, or group of burners, with a valve, which regulates the supply to such burner, set, or group of the gas used for illumination; and I employ in connection with such valve and its diaphragm a spring or springs and a stop, whereby when the compressed air or high-pressure gas is shut ofi' at the works or station, the said valve is so nearly closed as just to leave a very small flame at the tip oi' its burner or of each biu'ner of its set or group. It is in the novel combination and arrangement of this diaphragm, valve, spring or springs, and stop in connection with each burner or set or group of burners, that my invention consists.

The accompany drawing is a vertical sectional view illustrating the application of my invention in connection with a single burner.

A is a box or case of suitable form or size, divided horizontally by a flexible diaphragm, D, of leather or other material into two chambers, B and O, with the lower one, B, of which the ordinary service or supply-pipe E from the illuminating-gas main is connected, and the upper one C is in constant communication with a small supply or service-pipe, G, for the supply of compressed air or gas of any kind, at a higher pressure than the illuminating-gas, from the separate main provided for such air or higher-pressure gas. On the top of the box or case A is a pipe, Il, which is in constant communication with the lower chamber B for the supply of the illuminating-gas to the burner I on the top of said pipe. In the lower chamber B is a horizontal partition, a, in the center of which is an opening, around which is the seat of a downwardly-opening valve, J, the stem d of which works through guides b and c, and is connected at its upper end with the diaphragm D. Between the valve J and the lower guide c there is coiled round the valvestem aspiral spring, K, which exerts a constant upward pressure and tendency to close the valve. Above the diaphragm, directly over the valvestem d, there is screwed through a tapped hole in the top ofthe box A a screw, L, which serves as a stop to prevent the closing of the valve J, and to regulate the degree to which it shall be left open for the small supply of-.oas to the burner when illumination is not required. The head of this screw is covered up and protected by a screw-cap, e, which screws onto a screw on the top of the box, and the removal of which permits the screw to be turned to regulate the degree to which the valve shall belet open. Above the diaphragm D there is applied a spiral spring, N, much weaker than K, and exerting a slight downward pressure on the diaphragm and valve to prevent the too sudden closing of the valve.

When the compressed air or high-pressure gas is turned onto its main it enters by the servicepipe Gr into the upper chamber C of the box and depresses the diaphragm, thereby opening the valve wide and letting onto the burner I a full supply of gas, which when once lighted is not intended to be entirely extinguished. When the illumination is no longer required the compressed air or high-pressure gas is shut off, and the spring K then closes the valve so nearly as to leave only suflicient light at the burner to provide for lighting up again when the compressed air or highpressure gas is again turned on, and the valve J thereby opened. In the closing movement of the valve the spring N checks the too sudden action or concussion, by which, without such spring, the gas Would be liable to be shut off en-. tirely, and thereby to entirely extinguish the light.

Any number of burners or sets or groups of burners furnished each with a similar valve and diaphragm may simultaneouslybe operated upon in a similar manner.

When one valve and diaphragm are to be used for a set or group of burners, the pipe H may have several branches With a burner on each; or there may be two or more such pipes attached t0 the one box A.

In the application of this invention to streetlamps it is desirable, in order to prevent the blowing out of the very small llame which is left at the burner When illumination is not required, that the bottom of the lamp should be made of inely-perorated metal or wire-gauze, which will admit air enough for combustion at all times, but prevent gusts or strong draughts.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the illumninating-gas pipe E, air or high-pressure gas-pipe G, chambers B and C, diaphragm D, single valve J, and spring K, and stop L, operating' as herein set forth.

2. In combination with the above, the spring N, applied and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

. Y E. D. MCORAGKEN.

Witnesses:

FRED. HAYNES,

U. J. TUsKA. (64) 

